Chapter 22 It's so good!
Inside the imperial kitchen, a bustling atmosphere prevailed.
Dozens of imperial chefs and their assistants, including eunuchs and palace maids, looked at each other, their faces showing considerable difficulty, as they surrounded the baskets of dark, muddy lumps.
"This...this thing is really edible?"
A young imperial chef held a cleaver and gestured for a long time, but he still didn't know where to start.
"His Majesty's word is law; if he says it's edible, then it's edible! How dare you question it?" The head of the imperial kitchen, Eunuch Li, flicked his forehead with his delicate fingers, clearly annoyed.
Just then, Yuan Hua's head palace maid came to deliver a message, bringing with her a list full of strange dish names.
"The Empress Dowager has decreed that these potatoes must be prepared according to this order."
When Eunuch Li took the order and looked at it, he was dumbfounded.
"Fried, French fries? Spicy potato wedges? Hot and sour shredded potatoes? What are all these things?"
Although they had their doubts, no one dared to disobey the orders from above.
The imperial chefs had no choice but to bite the bullet and begin processing the potatoes, following the detailed instructions given by the palace maids sent by the Empress Dowager.
First, peel it.
After the yellowish-brown outer skin was peeled off, the pale yellow interior was revealed, making it look much cleaner.
Immediately afterwards, the royal chef with the best knife skills was brought out and nervously cut the potatoes into thin strips.
Heat a wok, add oil, then add Sichuan peppercorns and dried chilies to sauté until fragrant. Add shredded potatoes.
With a sizzling sound, a strange, burnt aroma instantly filled the kitchen!
As the spatula danced, vinegar and seasonings were added.
A powerful, tangy, spicy aroma, as if it had grown legs, instantly swept through the entire imperial kitchen!
"Gulp."
Someone couldn't help but swallow.
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the plate of golden-yellow dish in the pot, garnished with red and green chili threads.
"Oh my god! This smells amazing!"
"Who would have thought that this lump of mud could be used to make such delicious food?"
As soon as the hot and sour shredded potatoes were cooked, the entire imperial kitchen was filled with an irresistible aroma.
The eunuchs and palace maids working there were practically drooling.
They watched those clods of earth transform step by step into this delicious dish, and the sense of accomplishment they felt was indescribable!
How wonderful it would be to eat this kind of food every day from now on!
Eunuch Li, the head of the imperial kitchen, walked over with his chest puffed out. Looking at the listless faces of the crowd, he felt both proud and sentimental.
"You all see it, don't you? These are auspicious omens bestowed by Heaven itself because His Majesty moved Heaven!"
He cleared his throat and said in a loud voice, "You all must remember His Majesty's kindness! If it weren't for our young Emperor, you would never have smelled such a fragrant aroma in your entire lives!"
A young eunuch, his mouth watering, said with a worried expression, "Steward, but there doesn't seem to be much of this. After the banquet tonight, it'll probably be gone. How will we ever have a chance to eat any?"
Upon hearing this, everyone wore expressions of disappointment.
Yes, this is clearly meant for civil and military officials and imperial relatives. We servants have no chance of having such a privilege.
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Li snorted coldly and pointed at them one by one with his finger.
"Look at you, so short-sighted! You're all so narrow-minded!"
"His Majesty has obtained more than just these edible potatoes! He has also acquired many more seeds!"
"Once these seeds are planted, one mu of land can yield three thousand jin! At that time, not only you, but every household in the whole world will be able to grow potatoes! How could you possibly go hungry!"
"Everyone, perk up! This potato feast today must be a complete success! After those ministers eat it, they'll all be scrambling to go back and promote potatoes! Do you hear me?!"
These words instantly ignited everyone's enthusiasm!
"I heard you!"
"Don't worry, Steward! I guarantee the adults will lick the plates clean!"
A group of eunuchs and palace maids were so excited that their faces turned red. Smelling the increasingly rich fragrance in the air, their motivation to work exploded!
Today, we must make these delicacies even more delicious, and spread the potatoes to every corner of Dayu as quickly as possible!
…
During the banquet.
The civil and military officials who were invited have arrived one after another with their families.
For a time, the air was filled with the fragrance of fine clothes and the rustling of hair, and laughter and conversation.
"Oh, Lord Wang, you've finally arrived! Today, we are all fortunate to be able to enjoy this auspicious omen bestowed by Heaven, thanks to His Majesty's blessing!"
"Yes, yes, Lord Li, you are too kind! His Majesty is benevolent, and auspicious omens have descended from heaven. This is a blessing for our Great Yu and a boon for all the people!"
On the surface, everyone flattered each other, creating an atmosphere of harmony.
In reality, they were all having their own doubts.
Potatoes? That name sounds so rustic. They really grow in the ground. How can they taste good?
Don't take a bite and end up with a mouthful of muddy, fishy taste; that would be a laughing stock!
An official leaned close to his colleague and whispered, "Hey Zhang, this empress may have had some good fortune, but she's still just a four-year-old child. What does she know? Maybe these potatoes aren't even meant to be eaten!"
Before he could finish speaking, a sharp gaze fell upon him from the side.
General Weiyuan stood there, tall and imposing, his tiger-like eyes glaring: "Are you questioning His Majesty and the Empress Dowager?"
The official was startled and quickly waved his hand.
General Weiyuan, however, was relentless. He was now a loyal subject of His Majesty and had to show it.
"His Majesty has gone to great lengths to obtain food for us and for all the people, and you, on the other hand, are making sarcastic remarks! You are simply a traitor!"
The official, sprayed with spittle, immediately became angry and rolled his eyes.
"I have a reasonable suspicion! General Weiyuan, instead of lecturing me here, you should think about how to explain this to your wife!"
General Weiyuan's heart skipped a beat, and he turned his head sharply.
really!
The lady stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at him angrily, her eyes looking like she wanted to devour him.
"Well, you're something else! Why did you come back so late yesterday? Don't think I don't know you crawled in through the dog hole in the backyard! You've really gotten bold!"
The lady's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the people around her to hear clearly.
General Weiyuan's old face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, and he repeatedly bowed and begged for mercy.
"Madam, Madam, please let me explain! I just had a few too many drinks with my colleagues and forgot the time! I swear, I really didn't mean to!"
A few suppressed laughs came from the surrounding area.
General Weiyuan wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground.
The lady snorted coldly and glared at him: "I'll let you off this time for the sake of His Majesty's first grand banquet! If there's a next time, hmph!"
General Weiyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief, cold sweat pouring down his face.
However, his heart soon jumped into his throat again.
He looked around nervously, praying frantically in his heart.
Surely His Majesty won't be eating melons at this banquet anymore?
Yes, that shouldn't be the case! Didn't the system say that His Majesty has already finished digesting today's gossip? He definitely won't bring up his old grievances again!
He tried to comfort himself while bowing and scraping to coax his wife.
Meanwhile, the protagonist of the banquet, Yu Zhaoning, had already quietly slipped away.
With her short legs, she moved like a nimble kitten, taking advantage of the time when the Empress Dowager and Prime Minister Lin were exchanging pleasantries with the ministers, and darted into the Imperial Kitchen.
As soon as she entered, the overpowering aroma made her little nose twitch wildly.
Wow! It smells so good!
She spotted the plate of freshly cooked, golden and crispy fries on the stove! Next to it was a small dish of bright red sauce that smelled sweet and sour.
[Is this the tomato sauce Grandma was talking about? It looks so delicious!]
She tiptoed, secretly stretched out her chubby little hand, and picked up the longest French fry.
Following my grandmother's description, I dipped it in the tomato sauce and then quickly stuffed it into my mouth.
"Snap!"
The crispy texture, the savory flavor of potatoes, mixed with the sweet and sour taste of tomato sauce...
Yu Zhaoning's eyes widened in happiness!
[Waaaaah! It's so delicious! It's heavenly!]
She had only been enjoying her happiness for two seconds when she caught a glimpse of another plate of freshly cooked food next to her out of the corner of her eye.
It was a type of potato cut into wavy shapes, sprinkled with chili powder and various spices, bright red and glossy, looking particularly appetizing.
[It must be wolf tooth potatoes! These look so delicious!]
Her eyes widened instantly, and she couldn't resist reaching out her wicked little hand to secretly pick up a piece and stuff it into her mouth.
Spicy! Soft and tender!
It's a completely different and wonderful taste!
Yu Zhaoning was bubbling with happiness.
With her hunched back, tiptoeing, and guilty look, she thought she was getting away with it.
In fact, all the eunuchs and maids in the imperial kitchen stopped what they were doing and looked at her with smiles in their eyes.
My heart is melting from cuteness!
How can our little emperor be so adorable!
While eating French fries and chewing on wolf-tooth potatoes, Yu Zhaoning stuffed his mouth full like a little hamster, and still chatted with the system in his mind.
[System! This is so delicious! I declare potatoes the best vegetable in the world!]
[We absolutely must eat lots of melons tomorrow! Eat as much as you want! And give me more seeds of this delicious food!]
[Grandma said sweet potatoes and corn are delicious too! Especially roasted sweet potatoes and boiled corn, they're so fragrant! We'll get our hands on them all!]
The system's voice also carried a hint of excitement.
[Yes, host! We'll bring it all! You can eat your fill!]
Yu Zhaoning nodded happily to herself.
The civil and military officials in the warm pavilion, however, were not so composed.
They sat upright, holding teacups, pretending to savor their tea, but in reality, their ears were all perked up.
Because even here, they can clearly hear the little empress's inner thoughts!
[Slurp! These fries with ketchup are amazing!]
Wow! Wolf tooth potatoes are delicious too! They're fragrant, spicy, and soft!
[I can't take it anymore, my mouth is watering!]
Those heartfelt exclamations of praise, those involuntary slurps, were like tiny hands tickling their hearts.
The crowd looked at each other, their Adam's apples bobbing involuntarily.
Is this thing called a potato really that delicious?
Listening to His Majesty's heartfelt words, it seems even more tempting than the finest delicacies.
"Gurgle..."
Someone's stomach growled at an inopportune moment.
Soon, gurgling sounds began to rise and fall.
The officials, both civil and military, blushed and hurriedly drank their tea, trying to cover up their embarrassment.
Only Lin Xiang, with his eyes lowered, had a barely perceptible smile on his lips.
He gracefully set down his teacup, his gaze fixed on the direction of the imperial kitchen, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Looks like I'm in for a treat tonight.